Annals of oncology : official journal of the European Society for Medical Oncology
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At present, treatment results for patients with advanced-stage Hodgkin's disease remain unsatisfactory. Standard chemotherapy M(C)OPP (nitrogen mustard (cyclophosphamide). vincristine, procabazine, and prednisone). ABVD (adriamycine, bleomycine, vinblastine, and dacarbacine) or M(C)OPP/ABVD +/- radiotherapy fail to achieve long-term complete remission in 35% to 50% of these patients. The BEACOPP (bleomycin, etoposide, adriamycine, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, procarbazine, and prednisone) regimen was developed to improve treatment results by dose intensification achieved by reduced duration of treatment (time intensification) and addition of etoposide. ⋯ The BEACOPP regimen is feasible at moderate hematopoeitic toxicity. With a FFTF-rate of 89% at a median follow-up of 40 months, the treatment results are very encouraging. A prospective randomised trial has been initiated to compare the BEACOPP regimen with the standard COPP/ABVD regimen in advanced-stage Hodgkin's disease.